Georgia > West Central Region > Muscogee County > Columbus

Columbus Riverwalk is a 22 mile-long linear park along the east bank of the Chattahoochee River that provides a unique combination of urban and natural environments for casual strollers and hikers, joggers, bicyclists and fishermen. Links below take you to an interactive map and a virtual tour.

Beginning in 1987/88 as a response to federal mandated sewage and water upgrades, the Water Works of Columbus along with local government and civic leaders created a partnership that has resulted in one of the cities premier tourist attractions.

The award-winning engineering design was done by Jordan, Jones and Goulding, both an Atlanta and Columbus based environmental engineering consulting firm. This design template is still in use today as additional phases are brought in, and a changing usage base is cultivated. Original construction began in 1989 and Phase I had a grand opening on Columbus Day 1992 with a large kazoo parade behind Golden Park. This one-mile area spanned from the dam at The River Club to behind the Trade Center and featured restrooms, ADA accessibility, and easy access from downtown at Bay Avenue.

Phase II was a large project that took the length of the Riverwalk to 12 miles. It passed Golden Park, The Civic Center, Rotary Park and Rigdon Park, linking all of these together. Long term planning provided access to the Naval Museum, Leisure pools, and the Oxbow Environmental Learning Center with it’s varied attractions, including three canopy rope bridges. Phase III extended another three miles to the Infantry Center at Fort Benning and was awarded the best Military Installation in the world.

Phases IV and V included the northern section of the Riverwalk from TSYS campus to Bibb Mill, on to Lake Oliver. A 22-mile linear park provides an asphalt trail with restrooms and access for all persons from the sports minded hiker or cyclist to the perfect spot for fishing. Columbus State University and the River Center have added to the usage of the Riverwalk by providing a home to the CSU School of Music in the downtown area by utilizing the area as a downtown campus.

Links:

• Read more about Columbus Riverwalk including a tour map, access points, and a virtual tour.
• Find other Columbus, Georgia travel and recreation resources.

 Georgia > Central Region > Newton County > Mansfield

Fly fishing is among the many outdoor recreational activities avaiable at the Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center. Others include hunting, hiking, biking, archery and a shooting range.

The 6,400-acre Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, offers a variety of activities and programs. This beautiful area is centrally located in the state in a wooded setting near Mansfield, Georgia, making it easily accessible from Atlanta, Athens and Macon. An area map is available by clicking here.
Some of the opportunities available include:

• Fishing
• Hunting
• Hiking
• Biking
• Archery Range
• Self-Guided Driving Tour
• Shooting Range
• Bird Watching
• Boat Access
• Horseback Riding
• Picnicking

Who was Charlie Elliott?
Charles Newton Elliott (1906-2000) lived in Covington, Georgia, and served as the first Director of Georgia State Parks in 1937-38. He became the Commissioner of Natural Resources in 1938-41, then was the first Director of the Game and Fish Commission (now known as the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division) in 1943-49. Elliott also was Southeastern Field Editor for Outdoor Life magazine from 1950 until his passing. His dedication to the conservation of the natural world and wildlife was evident to those who knew him personally and those who read his many writings.

Whatever your reason for being there, the outdoors is a world apart, a creation unique with its own colors, its special music, and its matchless variety of fragrance. No human paint brush could ever duplicate its beauty, no musical instrument its blended symphonies, and there is no way to match its fragrance with chemicals. Charlie Elliott

Links:

• Read more about Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center.

 Georgia > Northeast Region > Stephens County > Toccoa

Happy Trails Hikers. Happy Trails Shuttle and Guide Service provides all kinds of assistance to those wanting to explore the North Georgia Mountains,  from gear and equipment rental or sales to shuttles.

Happy Trails Shuttle and Guide Service provides the outdoor enthusiast with reliable backcountry shuttles, dependable outdoor guide service, detailed trip planning, packages and gear advice.

Our mission is to support and assist people in maximizing their enjoyment of the outdoors by providing a reliable shuttle service, guided hiking and fishing trips, detailed trip planning packages, and gear rental for experienced and novice outdoor enthusiasts in the North Georgia and Carolina Mountains. We strive to assist all people in experiencing the beauty and awe of nature and promote the preservation and respect for the outdoors throughout the Southeast mountain region.

Guides Services

• Guided hiking trips (half day and full day)
• Overnight multiple day beginner backpacking trips
• Guided fishing trips (half day and full day)
• All gear is provided for up to 3 people
• Prior to your outing, you and I will discuss trip planning details, such as needed supplies, proper attire, time lines, and other logistics.
• All trips are tailored to your specific desires and the degree of personal instruction needed.

Trip Planning

• Personally tailored hiking, backpacking, paddling, biking trips based on your location, personal preferences, fitness level, and accessibility. Detailed packets of information for needed supplies, local stops, directions, meal planning, and trail conditions.

Links:

• Read more about Toccoa’s Happy Trails Shuttle & Guide Service.

Georgia > Northeast > Rabun County > Clayton

Hiking Guides to 82 U.S. Forest Service trails in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests can be found in the Hiking Trails Category here on the Brown’s Guides site. Each hike contains a brief introduction to the hike and directions to the trailhead from the nearest city, along with a map.

In some cases, depending on where the hike is, savvy Google map users can ++ the map and not only locate the trailhead, but find the hiking trail itself. See the Three Forks Trail for an example of this. If you will ++ the map and click on the “Terrain” view, you can find the hiking trail to Three Forks and appreciate the topographical features of this part of Georgia that make this such an unusual and gratifying hike .

Some of the 82 Forest Service hikes have links to posts in the Georgia Hiking blog that provide more detail on a particular hike and a more detailed map. See the Rabun Bald hike, and the aforementioned Three Forks hike for examples.

Brown’s Guides would like to hear from you about your experiences on these hikes and other Georgia hiking trails that may not yet be included on the site. We’ll publish your comments, photos and maps; share them with others; and credit you with the contribution.

Tours of Sapelo Island are among the outdoor adventures of the Macon-based Georgia Wilderness Society. The Sapelo Ferry is pictured above.

The Georgia Wilderness Society is a non-profit organization of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, camping, canoeing and other wilderness experiences. It’s based in Macon with members from several states. Tours and trips extend throughout the Southeastern United States.

Georgia Wildernes Society meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of February, April, June, October and December at 7:30pm at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon.

A newsletter is available online in pdf format, and upcoming trips are available on the GWS website, which is usually more current than the newsletter.

Characteristic tours and outings include:

• Canoeing
• Backpacking
• Bike rides
• Social events
• Explorations of Georgia’s barrier islands
• Hiking on the Appalachian Trail